Choices: Detoxing Alone or at a Detox Center

Every drug and alcohol user has a choice when they want to stop using. You can detox alone or you can choose to get help. It is important to understand the choice you are about to make. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. If you are considering detoxing from drugs or alcohol, call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?).

Detoxing Alone

Detoxing alone is always an option. Sometimes people are afraid to go to a detox center. They are afraid of what people will think about them if they ask for help so they decide to go it alone. This might seem particularly appealing when you are already isolated due to your drug use. There are benefits and disadvantages of detoxing alone.

Benefits of Detoxing Alone

The benefits of detoxing alone are:

Privacy
No one you know will know about your addiction if they do not already
You can sometimes maintain your work or school

Drawbacks of Detoxing Alone

There are also many drawbacks of detoxing alone. Several studies show that detoxing off certain drugs can be deadly. One study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that seizures kill up to 5 percent of the people who try to detox alone. Several drug classes can cause death through a variety of symptoms. These classes are:

Alcohol
Benzodiazepines
Some opiate replacement drugs
Hypnotics
Amphetamines

These drug classes often have detox symptoms like:

Certain substances can cause dangerous detox symptoms.

Hallucinations
Delirium
Delirium tremens
Psychosis
Seizures
Heart failure
Respiratory failure
Stroke
Convulsions
Dehydration

These symptoms may come on slowly or suddenly depending on the type of detox.

Detoxing at a Treatment Center

When you choose to detox at a treatment center there are also advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes people want the comfort of knowing there is a medical staff close at hand.

Benefits of Detoxing at a Treatment Center

One of the main benefits of detoxing at a treatment center is that you will receive treatment for your detox and your drug addiction. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, some of the services you can receive at a treatment center are:

Individual counseling
Group counseling
Medication
Medically monitored detox
Choice of inpatient or outpatient treatment
Support activities such as mentoring, skill training, and employment counseling

These are just a few of the advantages to seeking the help of a detox center.

Disadvantages of Detoxing at a Treatment Center

Like every form of detox there are a few disadvantages of seeking treatment in a detox center. These disadvantages are:

Possibility of people finding out that you are in drug treatment unless your treatment is out of town
You will be monitored for drug use while you are in treatment
You have to pay for treatment but insurance may cover it

These disadvantages can easily be turned around by taking some basic steps. The first is to find a private detox facility that is right for you. For more information, call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?).